In a manuscript that appears in today’s online version of J. Am. Chem Soc., Zhen, Tian (May), and Kin describe a new method to carry out β,γ-vicinal dicarbofunctionalization of 3-butenoic acid derivatives using a directed nucleopalladation strategy. Of special note, May becomes the first undergraduate student to co-author a paper in the Engle group. Way to go, team! Click here for a link to the paper.

(not pictured: Kin)